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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Heathrow expansion e-mails probed | Heathrow expansion e-mails probed |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The Department for Transport (DfT) is facing an "intensive investigation" over claims e-mails about the expansion of Heathrow Airport were deleted. | The Department for Transport (DfT) is facing an "intensive investigation" over claims e-mails about the expansion of Heathrow Airport were deleted. |
| The exchanges with airport operator BAA were requested by a Conservative MP under the Freedom Of Information Act, who said she then spotted gaps. | The exchanges with airport operator BAA were requested by a Conservative MP under the Freedom Of Information Act, who said she then spotted gaps. |
| The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) confirmed it would examine the 2007 e-mails about the third runway. | The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) confirmed it would examine the 2007 e-mails about the third runway. |
| The DfT said all freedom of information cases had been handled "responsibly". | The DfT said all freedom of information cases had been handled "responsibly". |
| Justine Greening, Tory MP for Putney in south-west London, said she asked for the investigation after noticing gaps in e-mail conversations between September and November 2007. | Justine Greening, Tory MP for Putney in south-west London, said she asked for the investigation after noticing gaps in e-mail conversations between September and November 2007. |
| 'Full facts' | 'Full facts' |
| "There were a variety of e-mails on important issues that never had an end. I think it seems very unlikely there was that level of e-mail conversation where there was never an end," she told the BBC. | "There were a variety of e-mails on important issues that never had an end. I think it seems very unlikely there was that level of e-mail conversation where there was never an end," she told the BBC. |
| "And it was unlikely that they were sporadically deleted in a random way... it was the end of conversations that were never resolved," she said. | "And it was unlikely that they were sporadically deleted in a random way... it was the end of conversations that were never resolved," she said. |
| Until ministers reverse their decision to expand the airport, we will continue to campaign Justine Greening MP | Until ministers reverse their decision to expand the airport, we will continue to campaign Justine Greening MP |
| Ms Greening said she made three identical requests under the Freedom Of Information (FOI) Act, in July 2006, September 2007 and April 2008. | Ms Greening said she made three identical requests under the Freedom Of Information (FOI) Act, in July 2006, September 2007 and April 2008. |
| The Conservative shadow local government minister said she wanted to find out what discussions were going on within the DfT in the run up to the consultation on Heathrow's expansion. | The Conservative shadow local government minister said she wanted to find out what discussions were going on within the DfT in the run up to the consultation on Heathrow's expansion. |
| "I'm very pleased the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating, it's important one way or another to find out what has happened," she said. | "I'm very pleased the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is investigating, it's important one way or another to find out what has happened," she said. |
| "I very much hope, if e-mails were withheld, that those are then made public." | |
| She said the ICO had told her it planned "quite an intensive investigation in a short timescale with the limited resources available to our office". | She said the ICO had told her it planned "quite an intensive investigation in a short timescale with the limited resources available to our office". |
| Ms Greening, who has campaigned against the £9bn expansion, said millions of Londoners had had their lives ruined by overhead flights and air pollution from Heathrow. | Ms Greening, who has campaigned against the £9bn expansion, said millions of Londoners had had their lives ruined by overhead flights and air pollution from Heathrow. |
| "Until ministers reverse their decision to expand the airport, we will continue to campaign," she said. | "Until ministers reverse their decision to expand the airport, we will continue to campaign," she said. |
| Last year the Conservatives pledged to scrap plans for a third Heathrow runway if elected. | Last year the Conservatives pledged to scrap plans for a third Heathrow runway if elected. |
| A DfT spokesman said: "We are aware of a possible investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office, but have not received any formal notice. | A DfT spokesman said: "We are aware of a possible investigation by the Information Commissioner's Office, but have not received any formal notice. |
| "The department has received a number of FOI cases in relation to expansion at Heathrow, and we believe they have all been handled responsibly and in accordance with the Act." | "The department has received a number of FOI cases in relation to expansion at Heathrow, and we believe they have all been handled responsibly and in accordance with the Act." |
| The ICO said: "We are looking into allegations made by Justine Greening MP concerning requests for information to the Department for Transport. | The ICO said: "We are looking into allegations made by Justine Greening MP concerning requests for information to the Department for Transport. |
| "We have contacted BAA and the DfT to help us establish the full facts." | "We have contacted BAA and the DfT to help us establish the full facts." |
| It is a criminal offence to delete or conceal records to prevent them from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act. | It is a criminal offence to delete or conceal records to prevent them from being disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act. |
| A BAA spokesperson said the company was not covered by the FOI Act and did not any comment to make. | A BAA spokesperson said the company was not covered by the FOI Act and did not any comment to make. |